Assorting apparatus.



F. KRAMER. H ASSORTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 1913.

Patented July 28, 1914.

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P. KRAMER.

ASSORTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18,1913.

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ASSORTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 1913.

Patented July 28, 19M

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Patented July 28, 19M

F. KRAMER.

ASSORTING APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 18, 1913.

| II IIIIII ll ll 1 I 7 I IITVIIIIIII IPI IIIFPIIII lllrLil r allo'wuaw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. FRANK KRAMER, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOIR. 'OF THIRTY-FIVE ONE- HUNDREDTHS TO C. BOIGE, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

ASSORTING APPARATUS.

ments in Assorting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to apparatus of the above character especially adapted for assorting different lengths of lumber and'it has for an object the provision of a novel construction which will operate in an efiicient manner. I

Another object resides in providing a novel means for removing the assorted lumberfrom the bins in which it has been deposited.

Other objects will appear as the description-progresses and those features of construction, arrangements and combinations of parts on which protection is desired, succinctly defined in the annexed claims.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout t Figure 1 is a plan view of an assorting apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof illustrating a plurality of assortin apparatus employed for different grades 0 lumber. Fig. 3 is-an end elevation thereof. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line H of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 1. Fig 6 is an enlarged view of the vertical adjusting.

mechanism for the bottom of the bin, and Fig. 7 is a cross section on line '77 of Fig. 1, disclosing more clearly the guideway for the conveyer and assorting chains.

Referring more in detail to the drawings,

1 designates a supporting frame structure, 2 shafts thereon, 3 sprockets carried on the shafts and 4 spaced'conveyer chains which take over the said sprockets.

Interposed between the conveyer chains 4 are spaced assorting chains 5 lying in a common plane and takin over sprockets 6 carried on one of the s afts 2. These assorting chains 5 take over a respective sprocket 7 on the stub shafts 8 and are of different lengths varying from the shortest chain adjacent one conveyer chain 4 .to the longest chain contiguous the other of said conveyer chains. The chains run in grooves 9 of supporting bars 10 which prevent the chain Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed .Tune 18, 1913.

Patented July 28, 1914.

Serial No. 774,391.

from sagging and tend to decrease any tendency for vibration, as is obvious. The pieces of lumber are fed from chains 11, supported on sprockets 12 of one of the shafts 2, to the conveyer and assorting chains from which the pieces are deposited according to lengths into their respective bins 13. The bins are made adjustable in size, to. accommodate different widths of lumber, by their walls engaging and cooperating with the threaded members 14. Anti-friction rollers 15 are disposed in thebottom of each bin for supporting the lumber and facilitating the removal of the latter from the bin.

Transverse chains 16 are supported on sprockets 17 of shafts 18 tooperate in the bins longitudinally thereof and above the rollers 15 a suflicient distance to permit of a plurality of boards or pieces of lumber being deposited prior to any operation tending to remove the same.

Reference numeral 19 indicates a plurality of dogs carried by chains 16, said dogshaving inclined faces 20 adapted for engagement with-the uppermost board in the bin to exert a pressure thereon for increasing the friction between the piled assorted boards. Upon further movement of chains 16 and dogs 19 the boards in the bins are removed to a suitable place of deposit, as, for instance, other conveyer chains 21, from which the bundles may be tied and disposed of as is apparent.

As shown clearly in Fig. 2, a plurality of asserting apparatus are arranged in superosed relation. By this construct-ion, 1um-' her of different grades may be removed from chains 11 and deposited-on the inclined chains 11' taking over sprockets 2'2 and 12 of shafts 23 and 2 respectively. From these chainsll' the lumber is disposed ofin a be elevated, while for two inch thicknesses of lumber, the bottom of the bin will be lowered. Each bottom 13 of the bins 'is provided with depending threaded stems 25 disposed adjacent each terminal of said bottom and receives a spiral ear 26 retained from vertical movement .by t e yoke 27 carried by the frame of the mechanism. Spiral.

ferred to the left conveyer chain 4 while the right end ortion will be delivered to the assorting c ains 5 and the right con veyer chain 4, depending on the length of the pieces of lumber. Theshortest piece of lumber to be assorted would be deposited in the first bin by the right end of the lumber riding off the shortest chain 5 and, being unsupported by any other assorting chain 5, tilts, thereby causing the left end portion to slide or drop from the left conveyer chain 4 into the bin. A piece of lumber to be I deposited in the fourth bin, for instance,

would be of suflicient length to ride on the left conveyer chain 4 and the fourth assorting chain 5 (counting from the left conveyer chain). A predetermined number of lumber pieces havin been deposited in a bin, the uppermost piece of the stack or pile is engaged by the inclined face 20 of a dog 19 to eflect a wedging action between the pile and the chain WlllCh increases the friction between the pieces of the pile sufficiently to effect movement of the latter with the dog.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is:-

1. In an assorting machine, a frame, a bin having an adjustable bottom, and means mounted on the frame for movement in the bin to remove lumber therefrom.

2. In an assorting machine, a frame, a

- bin having an adjustable bottom, and means mounted on the frame for movement in the bin to remove lumber therefrom, said means being spaced from the bin bottom 'to ermit of the lumber pieces being de osite on the latter, and said bin bottom justable toward and from the aforesaid means. v

In an assorting machine, a frame, a plurality of bins each having an adjustable ottom, and means for simultaneously adjusting the bottoms of the bins.

.4. In. an assorting machine, a frame, a

bin thereon, means adapted for removing the lumberfrom the bin after a pre-detereing ad-.

mined amount of lumber has been deposited in the bin, and means for operating the aforesaid means.

5. In an assorting machine, a frame, as-

sorting means thereon, and bins for receiving the assorted lumber, one Wall of each bin bein adj lstably mounted. 6311 an assorting machine, a frame, assorting means thereon, bins for receiving the assorted lumber, one wall of each bin being adjustably mounted, and means for adjusting the walls of the bins.

7. In an assorting machine, a frame, assorting means thereon, bins for receiving the assorted lumber, onewall of each bin bein adjustably mounted, and means for simu taneously adjusting the walls of the bins. V 1

8. In apparatus of the character described, a supporting frame, a bin thereon, anti-friction means for supporting the lumber in the bin, a chain, means supporting the chain for movement in the bin above the sup porting means, a dog on the chain adapted for engagement with the lumber in the bin for removal thereof, and means for operating the chain.

9. In apparatus of the characterdescribed,

a supporting frame, a bin thereon, anti-fric- .lumber in the blIl, means supporting the aforesaid means for movement, and means for moving the supporting means.

11. In apparatus of the character described, a supportin frame, a bin thereon, anti-friction means mthe bin for supporting lumber, means for increasing the friction between the pieces of lumber supported, said last named means engaging one of'the pieces of lumber, means supporting the last named means for movement, and means for operating the supporting means for the last named means. 5

12. In. apparatus for the character described, a supportin frame, a'binthereon, anti-friction means in the bin for supporting lumber, means for exerting pressure on the ieces of lumber in the bin, means supporting the aforesald means for movement,

a and means for moving the supporting means.

.-13..In f apparatus of the character described, a supporting frame, a bin thereon, a chain supported above the bottom of the bin to permit of lumber bein deposited on the bin bottom, means on sai chain for removing the lumber from the bin, and means for operating the chain.

14. In apparatus of the character de scribed, a supporting frame, a bin thereon provided with an adjustable bottom, means for adjusting said bottom, and means for removing the ieces of lumber supported by the bottom a ter a predetermined number of such pieces have been deposited thereon.

15. In a machine of the character described, a frame, means for supporting lumber, means for exerting pressure on the pieces of lumber supported on the first means, and means for moving the second means to convey the lumber.

16. In a machine of the character described, 21 frame, adjustable supporting means for lumber, and means for exerting pressure on the pieces of lumber supported to remove the same.

17. In a machine of the character described, a frame, adjustable supporting means for lumber, means for exerting pressure onthe pieces of lumber supported to remove the same, and means to adjust the supporting means toward and from the second means.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 31st dayof May 1913.

FRANK KRAMER.

Vitnesses:

CASSIUS E. GATES,- D. C. Boron. 

